Can't Force the Funk

Here is another song from the album "Café de la Vida" by P. J. Walsh and Friends.

Pat (lead singer and writer) wanted an R&B horn section to go with the band's live performance and asked me if there was anything I could do from a MIDI perspective. I played around with various samples I had but eventually gave up in dismay since all of the sounds were way too brassy sounding - fine for something like Earth Wind and Fire but too in your face for this piece. Not to be deterred, Pat suggested that I look around for what else was out there in terms of other MIDI packs and after auditioning several packs we both agreed that Sample Modelling had the best sound for what we were after.

The upside was that the modelling was very good but the downside was that to learn all of the various controls (wheels, pedals, dials, and key switches, etc.) to make each instrument sound just right was pretty hard to master quickly. Anyway, I will warn you that I still have a lot to learn so when you hear the horn track be aware that it doesn't do the product justice at all.

I was workin’ hard to a melody create
Peckin’ at my keyboard, stayin’ up too late
Hit my head against the wall of creativity
No matter what I did the notes just seemed to flee
Balls of crumpled paper into the trash I’d toss
‘Cause I felt each riff just left me at a loss

But then my lady muse turned on the bedroom light
Sayin’: “What would George and Bootsy do to try to get it right?
They’d say that you can’t force things that are meant to flow
Now don’t you go denying me ‘cause I’m right you know
So put away that music and don’t be such a punk
Let me feel your body language and don’t act like no monk”

I had a rather fitful night and in one scary dream
“Paralysis through analysis”, ze funky doctor screamed
“If you don’t let it go your music life is done
Now just when did you decide to keep from having fun?”
But when I awoke my head was free of junk
And what my lady said was like a King James dunk

Sultry.
Love the syncopated horns as they slide and punch their way in and out.
Lovely solo work at 4 minutes in.
This is quite a work that's successful on so many levels and there’s nothing forced about this Doug.
Cheers,
Charlie

Punchy
Thanks Charlie, I appreciate the feedback. Kudos to Pat and the band on this one as they laid down the feel and got the groove rolling. I just had to add the punches here and there.

As a result of doing this piece, I bought a MIDI breath controller and it does a much more realistic job of bringing out the dynamics in a performance especially for things like the saxes. Anyway, I would use it on my next effort for sure.

not 'forcing' the issue....
My issue with going after a better horn section sound was that the band had already laid down a decent track. The last thing I wanted to do was bring it all down with a terrible synthey kind of horn section that makes the whole song sound like crap.

Chair dancing
I wasn't there at the recording of the band, but I believe they all played together in the studio. In a sense then it was live, although not before an audience. Certainly not MIDI :) Pat and the guys will be pleased to hear your kind words. Thanks!

Funk
I did a double take when I saw your name on a tune with the word "funk" in it. Not that I would think that you can't do funk, just never saw it before. I'm sure that you're eminently capable of doing anything you want. This one sounds like good fun, although it sounds like you put a lot of work into it, some of which may not have been all that much fun. Anyway, to my horn-untrained ears it sounds great. That solo screams out very forcefully. Really impressive what you have done here. Your collaborators must be happy.

Nooooo one expects the Funk inquisition
I understand your double take since I've not worked on something like this before. If Pat and the guys hadn't already laid this down I probably wouldn't have ever worked on my own funk piece - not that I don't like funk (which I really do) but that it just takes a lot more instrumental talents that I don't have to pull it off.

Glad you like the piece and the solo. I will be passing all of the kind comments back to Pat and the guys.

The downfall
For sure there is nothing like a good track with a bad MIDI instrument of any sort. Too often it is a horn section or solo horn that is clearly not right. I know the next effort with the Sample Modelling package will be even better, but I have to admit that these guys have taken the art of realistic horns up several notches.

Tuscany Suite...
...well, you surprised me, Doug.
This is a cool track with lots of things going on in the accompaniment that all create this delicious counterpoint that's impossible to ignore. Very much enjoyed this number. And it DOES sound like a live performance. The final recorded version my benefit from a bit more reverb - but not much. (That big bridge around 2:50 ff is just great.)

Live feel
Thanks for the kind words Paul. We were able to get the groove going mainly due to the recording session being done with all musicians present except for me. My challenge was to post-facto match the groove the lads laid down and try to keep things interesting with stabs and other punctuation.

I make music for pleasure, usually using a computer to create soundscapes around all kinds of music. I used to jam with a local celtic group, playing bodhran and 12 string guitar, but I find that my technical and live performance skills fall short o... [see more]

Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e.g., James Brown and his band members (especially Maceo and Melvin Parker), and groups like The Meters. Funk best can be recognized by its syncopated rhythms; thick bass line (often